Geese, ducks, eagles seen in annual state survey

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia's annual mid-winter waterfowl survey tallied up thousands of ducks and Canada geese well above the 10-year average.

The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources says biologists counted 5,252 ducks and 6,262 Canada geese. Compared to last year's count, ducks are up 73 percent and geese up 44 percent. Weather fronts moving through the northwest in December contributed to the high numbers.

While mallards, Canada geese and black ducks were most commonly observed, biologists also reported seeing canvasbacks, tundra swans, wood ducks, redheads and others. Nine adult and five juvenile bald eagles were also observed.